We found this guy at Rio Grande Campground in Big Bend. I never knew there was more than one kind a Cardinal, red ones. Turns out there is this breed that is known as a Silver Cardinal (Pyrrhuloxia). They really are painted a slate like silver which makes their scarlet dusting show even more brilliant. The bill is parrot like and cast in a yellow-gold finish. They were very aggressive in their ground feeding and focused on the search for food. I was allowed to slowly approach and get fairly close before this bold one perched and posed very beautifully.
“You won’t catch a Cardinal,
Committing a Cardinal sin.
Nope! No matter,
What kind of snit it’s in.
They may swoop in,
And brush another away,
But then it’s a seed or two,
And they’re all ready to play.
I can’t say for sure,
That a Cardinal won’t lust,
But most seem to be,
The kind of bird I would trust”…Mickey Dee
Find some red on your journey…nade te turbe†††jim
Shades of Gray - Denison TX 
beautiful!
Perfect shot! I didn’t know there were more than one type, but I do hope to blog the ‘normal’ red cardinals soon!